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GOAT V BOAT

2026-10-15T15:59:00.000+01:00

The Greatest or the best? there is a distinction when it comes to allocating titles. Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer, but was he the best? Casablanca is the greatest movie but is it the best? The Beatles were the greatest band but were they the best?

Tough one, as it's hard to define the difference. Perhaps it's critical acclaim versus statistics, maybe it's popularity versus achievement.

What is clear is that it is unclear, basically no one knows how to judge accurately. I'll try though, using the first three examples.

Muhammad Ali: The self proclaimed GOAT (Greatest Of All Times) was someone who took boxing into the stratosphere with his charisma, talent and razor sharp mind. His ascent in the context of the radical changes in Black life in the USA and the Civil Rights movement was dynamic and meaningful. Boxing writers may say Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Mike Tyson or Henry Armstrong

Casablanca: Critics praise Citizen Kane, the groundbreaking and daring debut from a young Orson Welles. Film buffs point to the amazing The Godfather (part one for clarity as it has Marlon Brando and James Caan) or Ozu's Tokyo Story

The Beatles: The most important band in the history of popular music would be a title that many would agree with. Their surprisingly brief reign took them from "She Loves You" to "I Am The Walrus" while conquering America and influencing a generation. The ladies and gentlemen of the music press site a variety of artists and bands as the best and it is ever changing. From Pink Floyd to Elvis Presley and from Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan. A tough call

Perhaps the best way to label things is "favourite", it's opinion based, your opinion, and is not quantifiable but does clarify what the individual thinks about a given subject.

It should avoid argument, but not debate; that's a good thing, and it should stop the disgruntled response of "you're wrong"

So, my favourite boxer is Muhammad Ali, my favourite film is Mulholland Drive and my favourite band is not a band but an artist David Bowie. Now that's not debatable

ABSOLUTE POWER...

2026-10-08T13:57:00.000+01:00

We are living in an era where the rich and powerful can do whatever they like with impunity, lack of consequences, revolution or uprising. An age of absolute power with any dissent silenced (often permanently)

Therefore, the owners of Manchester City couldn’t give a fig about football’s governing bodies

When the news came out that the club had been found guilty of 114 charges of financial impropriety there was an element of surprise, surprise that it seemed that the Premier League were not going to let this one go. It seemed that two and half decades of malfeasance were going to go unpunished, it felt like this nation state owned club would carry on regardless.

However, the findings of the Premier League were uncompromising, the language used in the statement scathing, the levels of wrongdoing astounding.

The shadow that this casts over the beautiful game is very dark indeed and therefore the decision making about sanctions need to be a scorched earth policy.

To be clear, modern sport is by no means squeaky clean but the sheer temerity with which the ownership ran roughshod over rules that they had agreed to is astonishing.

The belief that sport should operate on a level playing field has been at the core of things since that first ball was kicked, but that is a belief that some disagree with and when those in disagreement have unlimited financial resources belief is irrelevant.

Many, more qualified than I, can fully explain the levels of cheating that saw Manchester City dominant in the English game and those explanations provide damning evidence of guilt.

Your value system defines your culture, and your culture defines your organisation. Manchester City’s ownership’s value system is that they think they are above the law, any law, but that belief may be misplaced as Manchester City face the mother of all punishments.

BAD COMPANY

2026-10-02T13:00:00.000+01:00

The 'unwanted company' cinema craze started in the 1980s with films like Fatal Attraction and Dead calm and blossomed in the 1990s with the likes of Pacific Heights, Single White Female, Unlawful Entry, Internal Affairs, Fear, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, Bad Influence and Poison Ivy. Some trends are easy to explain; the musicals of the 30s were a reaction to the great depression, Film Noir was related to the uncertainty of post war life and new Hollywood came out of post Vietnam identity, but this trend is harder to pin down.

Fear of strangers, concerns about threats to stability and unhealthy influence are themes of the genre. This was the end of the Reagan era and the start of the GW Bush era with it's connections to the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War.

So what drove the writers and producers of Hollywood to produce this output?

Could it have been the boom in home entertainment? Watching a movie in the comfort of your own home about someone invading the comfort of your own home may have been an astute combination, but that's not it as they generally did well at the box office.

Baby Boomer anxiety perhaps. The home ownership and urban aspiration that had been worked for so vociferously threatened by the arrival of a an unwanted guest. The Bad Man/Bad Woman lurking on the fringes of a perfect life, the new Bogeyman.

Tarantino and Transpotting rocked up and the cinema landscape changed again. The Deadly stranger receded into the background of the mainstream but worked their way into a genre where they have thrived. That genre of course was horror. The real home of the outsider.

The heyday of the mainstream period of stranger danger was an enjoyable one with fine actors relishing their parts and is an overlooked era of filmmaking.

Who knows, these unwelcome guests may reemerge with the increased fear of the outsider. After all, cinema is at it's best when it reflects life.

GETTING CARRIED AWAY

2026-09-25T13:00:00.000+01:00

Let's all get carried away shall we? Over reaction is the new black, Knee-jerkism is the opium of the masses and outrage rules the day. Why does everyone feel the need to erupt at the drop of a hat?

The need to be seen and the need to be heard has meant that, in a crowded market, the squeaky wheel get's the grease. That market is attention seeking content viewed through the hand held twat devices that are ubiquitous and all consuming.

Nowhere is this reactionary trend more prevalent than in the world of football. Every goal, foul, free kick, perceived transgression is met with hands flung in the air, ranting and vein throbbing temples. There is a new trend of 'Watchalongs', which, basically are bloke's with a videocamera who sit watching a game while viewers in turn watch them being performative and blowing their tops at the drop of a hat.

They aren't experts, in fact they struggle to put together coherent sentences, but they, bafflingly, have a multitude of viewers who in turn respond with outrage.

It's a vicious circle of overreaction that is becoming the norm, so much so that mainstream TV and Radio act in a similar way. Controversy equals clicks and clicks equal cash.

The other area where over reaction is king is the world of the right wing reactionary. Fury at the mention of "migrant", rage at the thought of "are country" being taken over, indignation at boats on the channel.

What all this tells me is that pausing for thought is an outdated concept for many. Taking time to consider is defunct and rationality is in short supply.

We all need to calm down, take a breath, think and use a bit of common sense and context. My concern is that altering behaviours is difficult, particularly if those behaviours are ubiquitous and bombarding.

Put simply, let's all stop getting carried away, let's not feel desperate for attention from people we don't know and will most probably never meet

REICH HERE REICH NOW

2026-09-18T13:00:00.000+01:00

The rise of the right is happening right here and it's happening right now. That's not hyperbole that is disconcerting fact. People marching on the streets with flags hoisted, carrying cans of Stella whilst lacking teeth shout into the abyss with rhetoric based on rumour and conjecture, there feeble minds easily swayed by "apparently" and "Well, I heard"

The awkward 'Patriot' Ninjas are also popping up and blocking roads in the cause of stopping the migrants. They don't really know why they want to stop the migrants and they don't really know why they have to wear a balaclava but they do and they stand around looking awkward like those blokes queueing up to have sex with Bonnie Blue.

They are using Christianity too, oh they love to use Christianity as a way to explain why migrants are out of order, thing is most of them aren't Christians, in fact they would struggle to read a Bible and find any relevance. They don't know about The Good Samaritan, or loving thy neighbour and all those other bits that talk about how you should embrace others (at least I think that's what the Bible is abut not having read it or having any religious leanings)

It always starts with the irrational hate, the anger and the vitriol aimed at the concept of someone a bit different. Once ignited that fire burns bright and the throng swells accordingly. The instigators are men with blunt names and an eye on celebrity status. The coke taking helps; what's a good march without a bit of Chang after all. So does the lager; you can't march without lager.

The enthusiasm to raise flags and pester innocent bystanders is evident as they adopt the mob mentality that is all to familiar from history books and News At Ten.

They chose their destinations well. Provincial towns, suburban outposts, seaside towns decimated by loss of industry, the far flung areas of desperation. They target the hotels and their employees, they target the men and women of the RNLI who put their lives on the line for us. They target anyone that they can safely shout at and intimidate.

I don't know of any solution for the massing of the ignorant. I can't think of an answer for people that aren't interested in facts. I don't know a strategy to enlighten those that don't want to be enlightened, but I'll tell you something, a wise man once said "never again" but if we are all not careful we may see history repeating itself.

PEACOCKS OF THE WORLD UNITE

2026-09-10T14:57:00.000+01:00

As we all know Peacocks flourish their tail feathers extravagantly to draw the attention of the dowdy Peahen, they seem to do this at the drop of a hat and, to be fair, they look magnificent. This is one of nature’s remarkable ways of drawing attention to creatures. Unfortunately, a growing number of humans have adopted this habit with the intent of getting noticed by mobile phone wielding members of the public and other moment capturing folk

The modern phenomenon of The Influencer is predicated on drawing attention to oneself, getting ‘likes’ and building a brand. They walk hand in hand with content creators. The Influencer is the latest celebrity genre, following hot on the heels of reality stars. The numerous celebrity TV shows have lineups that have gone from “who is that?’ to “who the f*k is that?” as influencers and content creators abound.

Paul Weller once wrote that “the public gets what the public wants” and the popularity of these social media sirens is pretty large. As many turn away from TV to YouTube and scrolling on their devices those that are slightly more adept with technology are growing in number and creating cash from clicks.

Maybe we should view them as entrepreneurs who have grasped their opportunities with both hands rather than ludicrous popinjays who are dumbing down the world of entertainment for financial gain at the cost of critical thinking and originality.

Could this generation of online onanists be the new philosophers only with messages diluted to appeal to the hard of thinking? Could their influence be a power for good, their content have integrity and an underlying positive message? Who knows?

What is clear is that they are show-offs, and I suppose that in the broader world of showbiz you kind of have to be, but with the growth of this aspect of the online world we may reach a point where everyone is either a content creator, influencer or someone who works within content creation and influencing. The day will come when our collective senses will be assaulted by an Ostentation, a Pride or a Muster of Peacocks at every turn strutting and flourishing while plying their attention seeking trade as the the masses keep on clicking away.

LET THE TRAIN CAUSE THE STRAIN

2026-09-04T15:59:00.000+01:00

"Let The Train Take The Strain" was the mantra of the British Rail advertising executives during the 1970s. These were still the days of British Rail before the UK rail service was privatised, a world of regularity and quiet conformity, an era when the trains, generally, ran on time, and if not on time, they were certainly cheaper.

The sell off to private firms for whom passenger satisfaction takes a distant second place to profits has led us to a place where traveling in the UK is akin to Homer's Odyssey.

An example of the frustrating nature of rail travel was my own experience of (trying) to get from Somerset to London on one of the hottest days of a very hot summer.

My first train, before having to change at Bath was old stock with the ventilation of the Black Hole Of Calcutta and the comfort of a bed of nails. Naturally the train stopped midway and myself and the other passengers were stranded in a steel box with the sun beating down and streaming in through the blinder-less windows.

I was tempted to break that little glass box that houses a plastic hammer for emergency window breakage, such were the conditions on this train compartment turned into a New Delhi cattle truck. The longer the delay the more chances that the connecting train would be missed. This thought was not helped by the lack of anything approaching refreshments.

As the temperature soured in the metal container my energy levels diminished. Imagined thoughts of not actually getting home became reality in my mind's eye as I could see no escape. This went on for what seemed like a long weekend, then suddenly we started moving. Alas I had missed our connection and therefore could only spin any positives out of the situation by thinking that at leas I would have to wait on an outdoor bench with the occasional gust of air from a passing train go supply some relief.

This situation was exacerbated by the fact that my journey from London to Somerset was also delayed meaning missing my connection. The following connecting train was two and a half hours away which is hardly conducive to a relaxing weekend away.

The British railway network is not fit for purpose, I think that's clear for all to see, and us Brits should be embarrassed when comparisons are made with some European rail services. How it can be more difficult to make a trip to the coast than traveling through Germany or Switzerland, or Sweden or a number of other countries should be a source of national shame.

The cost of rail travel is also a cause for concern. It being, in some cases, cheaper to fly is not good thing but it's just a fact.

We wont see the end of private firms running things any time soon, nor am I optimistic about an investment in stock so that extreme cold, extreme heat, leaves or wind cause trains to be cancelled or delayed.

They say "you get what you pay for" but if you choose to pay for a train journey you don't get what you pay for, in fact, you get what your given...and lump it

MILLER TIME

2026-08-28T12:30:00.000+01:00

Frank Miller has a biography out now called Push The Wall. Miller has been described in various terms that suggest that he is a genius in the field of comic books. He is. There are few comic book creators who legitimately pushed the art form; Kirby, Ditko, Toth, Moore, Moebius for example, but Miller stood on those giant's shoulders and created something unique. As an artist he has become more abstract in his style and as a writer he has, for some, become more controversial. Miller has always been an advocate for free speech within the medium and free speech goes both ways.

Miller's ability to deconstruct the comic book page was what set him apart and his bold use of space on the page aided his story telling, and what stories, from the hard boiled streets of Sin City to ancient Greece, Miller has been able to tell intimate stories on broad canvases

Miller's collaborations are also strong, his work with Geoff Darrow on Hard Boiled and Dave Gibbons on the Martha Washington saga are excellent and ground breaking stories.

The adaptations of his black and white opus Sin City, got it right in a way that not many comic book adaptations achieve and are hugely enjoyable.

They say that the gods have feet of clay and Miller's Achilles heel is his cinematic work. Screenwriter on Robocop 2 and 3 and his directorial debut The Spirit were failures, there's no other way of putting it. As he has gone from Marvel to DC to independent publishers so his style has evolved and become far more fluid, but for many modern Miller art is Marmite and that's easy to see why, but he dipped his toe earlier in his career to dazzling effect.

Following on from his dense graphic novel debut Ronin, Miller's masterpiece is in the upper echelon of comic books that changed the game, and The Dark Knight Returns really is a masterpiece. The Comic book world was left reeling when it was released and it's ripple effect is still felt on the page and on the screen. It's follow up The Dark Knight Strikes Again is different in tone to it's predecessor which is more of a slow build, and is the fastest paced comic book you will ever read. DK2 is to The Dark Knight what T2 is to the Terminator.

There is also a new Frank Miller documentary, Frank Miller American Genius, which is a remarkably good view into Miller's world and is an entertaining and revealing hour and a half. Alongside the release of his book this is a time to reflect on a remarkable career. He still has the desire to create more and experiment on his style. 2026 looks like it really is 'Miller Time'

SAY HELLO TO Ms. X

2026-08-21T12:17:24.473+01:00

2026 has bought us a plethora of interesting and entertaining programmes on streaming apps. Many have female protagonists or strong female co-stars, these new and newish shows offer more variety than mainstream cinema currently does and maybe that is to do with the long form of the TV series

Pluribus, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Ms X, Lucky, Star City, Furious, Silo, American Primeval, The Beauty, Department Q, Shinning Girls, Mobland, 3 Body Problem, The Beauty, Spider Noir, Cape Fear, The Boys, The Last Frontier and more.

These shows qualify for a number of genres and provide opportunities for new ideas, writers and performers, they also allow established actors to explore longer character development opportunities.

For me, the standout is Ms X, a New Zealand drama starring Melissa George, who previously spent a long time in Hollywood, even appearing in David Lynch' masterpiece Mulholland Drive and the massively underrated Triangle, that concerns a housewife dropped into an unusual, to say the least, situation. It has shades of the greatest of all antipodean TV shows, Mr Inbetween, and that is not just about the location. We delve into the NZ Underworld, Police Department, Latin Cartels, the problems of having teenage children and living in a "Keep Up With The Joneses" neighbourhood. This is done deftly and the humour within is natural not forced. It has cliff hanger endings, rich characters and a genuine "what is going to happen next" sense of jeopardy.

The supporting cast are uniformly excellent and weave in and out of each other's and Ms X's orbit, some with good intentions and others shrouded in mystery harbouring danger

If you have seen Mr Inbetween, this is a must and if you haven't this could be a good gateway show to Mr Inbetween. Or simply enjoy it, in it's own right, for what it is: an excellent, quirky, series, high on heart with a mix of intrigue and excitement. Once you meet Ms X you will want to stay in her world for a while

INDEPENDENT CINEMA FOREVER

2026-08-14T14:48:46.081+01:00

In London there is no excuse to not go to the cinema, no excuse at all, unless you want to make one. I don’t go to the mainstream cinema chains due to the prevelance of audience members talking to each other, looking at their phones, talking on their phones causing a commotion with endless rustling and slurping and generally being uncouth. There is also the issue of limited choice and exorbitant pricing This in itself may seem at odds with my opening statement but kindly bear with me gentle reader.

Alternatives do exist in the shape of smaller independent cinemas, case in point, the wonderful Prince Charles off Leicester Square, a haven for those that love the movies and want a bit of variety. Entrance is cheap as chips, and a lifetime membership is only £60.00. This entitles you to discount, free films and films for £1.00. and is, as stated, for life. The range of films they show is breathtaking and every taste is catered for with an ever-changing programme of rare and under seen gems, some in 70mm, 35mm or 4k restoration. It is an institution that was recently saved from closure by a vast number of loyal patrons who supplied a petition that simply could not be ignored.

Another great little cinema is The Covent Garden Cinema, adjacent to Covent Garden but nearer to Holborn tube station. A beautiful art deco cinema with a range of obscure films and rarities with an option for members to choose films to be shown. Tickets can be as little as £8.50, and you are guaranteed none of those pesky multiplex antics. And They serve Timothy Taylors Ale. They have quiz nights and discussion meetings it's hidden gem on the bustling west end

The Arthouse Crouch End is a bijou and wonderful cinema that feels like a café with a cinema attached. Again, variety and very reasonable pricing are the order of the day and if there’s nothing you fancy then the Crouch End Picturehouse is a few doors down.

Picturehouses are a chain that doesn’t feel like a chain and places independent cinema alongside current box office fare. They offer good value memberships, and the Crouch End branch has two nice bar areas, and they have Silver Screen viewings for those over 60, subtitled screenings and free tea and biscuits. I recommend also the Finsbury Park Branch which offers the same choices and is easier to get to as it’s stone’s throw from Finsbury Park Station

There was no way I was not going to mention the Everyman, there are a number of branches and the standout feature of this group of cinemas is the seating and the food both top notch. Reasonable pricing, great choice of films and great service distinguish these cinemas. I probably go more often to an Everyman than any other cinema and I would recommend them to anyone.

I spent many happy hours in the original Scala cinema on Tottenham Street near Goodge Street Station so I have had a natural affinity with independent cinema and it has never let me down

So, there you go, if you live in London there are a plethora of cinemas to visit (and I’ve not even mentioned the Curzon, The ICA, The Phoenix the Rio, the BFI and many others that are popping up across the capital). I would urge you to pay a visit to your local independent cinema as this will help more independent films to be made. At this moment when Hollywood is churning out either bland or bombastic product independent cinema is needed more than ever. The many excellent foreign language movies that put Hollywood to shame need the independent scene so that they can be seen and enjoyed. Do yourself a favour and support your local independent

AT YOUR SERVICE

2026-08-06T13:12:00.000+01:00

The British Service station has one thing you can rely on, and that one thing is a smelly toilet. Actually "smelly toilet" does not do the stench ridden stalls justice as the aroma emanating from within is both pervasive and oppressive. It's hard to say why this is the case but it could have something to do with the age of a great number of these motorway stop offs. The decrepitude can be seen in the detail; the non locking locks, the broken toilet seats, the insipid hand dryer strength and the invariable "Caution Wet' signs.

To compliment the Eastern Bloc architecture there is the Soviet era over reliance on bread based food offers. Bread, Bread and more Bread, there is something about travelling in the UK and Bread. It's the same at the airport where sandwiches are the de facto choice. Bread sits in the travellers tummy making for bloated hours of sitting still, waist band busting road trips and indigestion inducing treks across the country.

Another Service Station standard is the fill to the brim rubbish bins and uncollected debris from tables where families have scoffed and quenched and walked away from, leaving the used boxes and paper wrappers strewn across them.

Not enough staff, is the answer to why these places are dirty and unsightly, or rather, enough staff but with zero motivation or investment in a career in the service industries. Let's face it, working in a Service Station is hardly a child's dream career. Even so, being good at your job regardless is a good habit to get into.

Long gone are the days when Service Stations were seen as part of the glamour and luxury of travel that was an aspiration for many. The pride in service, the civility of it all has long gone replaced by a laissez faire attitude and a "Get It Yourself" ethos

A trip to today's typical Service Station is a generic experience and one which one takes part in reluctantly on the basis purely of hunger and need to use the facilities. It's certainly not a destination

THICK AS A PRANK

2026-07-30T13:43:00.000+01:00

The other day I was sitting in the car on a hot day, minding my own business near the Emirates stadium, home of the Arsenal. The window was wound down and the atmosphere was mellow with families visiting the stadium and a general good feeling in the air that you get when the team you support has just won the league.

You could smell the jerk chicken from the nearby restaurant , and sense the unity of the throng.

I noticed a group of three youths, yes they were boisterous and loud but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. As they passed by one of them suddenly reached for the door handle and to my surprise opened the door. He accompanied this by saying "Get Out Of The Car?!"

My response was to issue a loud "F8@k Off" and to slam the door shut. This led to the youths walking away.

Now, for me this was rather unexpected and I would suggest that on opening the door and gauging my height and size and general demeanour that the young man in question may have had second thoughts, but, and here's the thing, what if the car door chosen to open had been that of a vulnerable person? What if this act of aggression, in broad daylight, had frightened somebody out of their wits?

Whether this was an example of a modern day 'prank' (remember Happy Slapping and jovial home invasions?) seen on Tik Tok or any of the lowest common denominator social media sites remains to be seen, but I hope it isn't just the latest craze carried out by people who, frankly couldn't care a jot about others, people that have zero empathy.

Pranks used to be the forte of Jeremy Beadle and they weren't threatening just mildly embarassing, now they are hateful internet memes

Now I am a big boy and this experience is pretty much water off a duck's back as I have rarely if ever, been targeted in this manner, but it's another example of a kind of need to be doing something that draws attention, a need to be performative a need to, for want of a better word, show off.

PEPSI v COKE

2026-07-24T15:17:28.462+01:00

Nike is to Adidas what Pepsi is to Coca-Cola. The reason I say this is that the current World Cup has crystalised my theory. Nowhere is that more evident than in the respective big TV commercials for each brand.

Adidas focusses on past legends of the game and ordinary street footballers whereas Nike go full superstar. The thing is that most of Nike's players are egotistical popinjays more about themselves than the team and the way in which this advert is put together gives each of the an opportunity to be performative, arrogant and far from self depreciating. Now footballers that reach their level of success have to, by definition, have a degree of confidence bordering on arrogance but there are levels.

The Nike strategy has always been about targeting the slightly rebellious athlete and as times have changed those rebels are now rebel-by-numbers.

The Adidas model is more classic in approach drawing on the brand's history which goes back to 1949 and is very much a European brand whereas Nike came along much later in 1964 and is inextricably linked with The USA.

One brand is subtle while the other is showy, the trefoil out styles the Swoosh and adidas' links to music and street culture surpasses Nikes.

But its about choice and both brands provide plenty of that, I just think it's preferable to wear the brand that the once humble Messi endorses as opposed to the brand that the arch egotist Ronaldo typifies.

WORLD CRAP FINAL

2026-07-20T12:59:48.606+01:00

The Bishop of Bland Chris Martin, The Muppets and "The Children Of The World" delivered a toe curling and trite sub-Michael Jackson at his most indulgent, performance at the ~~Super Bowl~~ World Cup Final Half Time Show.

A wax works like Madonna flanked by what appeared to be Ali-G and Harvey Price were also in the mix alongside some blokes faffing about on stage and the yodelling inanity of the mystifyingly popular Shakira.

Add to that the "Let's get Ready To Rumble" guy being outdone by his Latin American counterpart and Infantino's white trainers and suit combination bookmarking the game, and you have a spectacle for the ages.

The Septics simply don't do restraint or subtlety and it was clear that they seriously misjudged the public's appetite for vapid elevator music and cringe inducing performances that offer nothing new.

And as if that wasn't enough we had the BBC's latest commercial justifying the license fee to contend with. A blitzkrieg of vanity and inanity featuring the now ubiquitous Romesh Ranganathan

It was one of those nights when I half expected a comet to hit the earth hurling us all into a new ice age, and it would have been well deserved.

All of this remarkably, actually took the focus away from the orange tyrant who was booed on entering the field of play to hand out medals to both sets of players who probably think the same about him as most sane people

The game itself? Spain's victory was well deserved as they were far superior to Argentina in every conceivable category (including sportsmanship) and in the end I think overall football was the winner of this contentious tournament.

The one person who quite possibly summed up all the extraneous bits of American showbiz on display was Wayne Rooney when asked about the half time show; "I thought it was crap" Well said Wazza

ENGLAND HOME OR AWAY

2026-07-15T11:30:00.000+01:00

Tonight it's England v Argentina. A classic World Cup match up in Atlanta Stadium and of course there will be recollections of the match in the iconic Estadio Azteka, between these two protagonists when Diego Maradona scored 'those' goals

For some there is a decision to be made whether to go out to watch it and join fellow fans in celebration or commiseration or to stay at home and be accompanied by the pundits of the BBC. To help you make that decision here are the negatives about going out to watch the World Cup:

Performative Plastic Pint Throwing . Absolutely moronic behaviour. Buying an over priced pint and then throwing it in the air to drench other people that may not want to be drenched is simply idiotic. I wish they would stop

Sweet Caroline blaring out at full volume. A song that is ubiquitous and need not be repeated

Communal singing of Wonder Wall. A song that is ubiquitous and need not be repeated

Filming the game on the big screen with your phone. Why?

Pre booking tables in pubs. This should not be encouraged. Pub rules say "first come, first served"

Endless betting company adverts. On the screen, on the wall on beer mats in the toilets.

Face paint. Yes, call me curmudgeonly but face paint should be reserved for children's parties

Plastic glasses instead of glass. Regular who visit the pub or bar suddenly have to put u with plastic glasses that make the drinking experience unpleasant

Increased pricing on a game night. A liberty, but when you have a captive audience you can take liberties if you are driven by commerce

Smoke flares. They contaminate ones clothes for days

Loud “experts” loudly giving their loud expert opinions to anyone who will listen, or anyone who doesn't want to listen for that matter

Couples taking up valuable seating space while nursing a coke and tap water for two hours

Staying in? sounds good now doesn't it?

ARGUING IN AN EMPTY ROOM

2026-07-06T16:11:00.000+01:00

If you say it is so, it is so. If you say it's bad, it's bad. If you say up is down and down is up, you're right.

An opinion, in the modern communication landscape, is now a fact, a fact that will be defended and argued about with no room for compromise. It's that sort of thing that is standard when discussing faith with many people; their view is embedded, but that's quite a deep and personal issue. The problem is that being entrenched is something of a default these days over the most trivial of things.

Example: I overheard a man in the pub the other day being asked if he had been in the previous night having an argument which he swore he hadn't, but that was not good enough for the questioner, he was adamant that it was him, and round and round they went. They were still at it when I left.

Then there is the case of when I know for a fact that a certain film starred a certain actor and the person who asked me about said film is convinced that I am wrong. It's not abut takig someone's word about it, its about being incapable of saying "Oh, I must be wrong then, thanks for clearing that up". Oh no, why agree when you can argue!

Naturally, Social media is the Ground Zero of arguing about opinions, its not only the Ground Zero, its the Eye Of The Hurricane it's the Monty Python Argument sketch of arguing.

Opinions aren't facts necessarily, that's simple enough isn't it? We are all entitled to our opinions from sensible to downright inane and healthy discourse is exactly what it says it is; healthy, but when we as a species cannot reach accord, use empathy or simply agree to disagree then we are in trouble, and maybe because there is so much information that can be accessed everyone thinks they're an expert.

The irony is that generally the louder the discourse the less the speaker has to say that has any meaning. Then again, maybe I'm just too old for arguing.

LISTENING KILLS

2026-06-30T15:52:00.000+01:00

Don't be fooled by "them". As a group them want to alienate and judge, them want to marginalise and create division

Don't place any great stock in "they", they have a lot to say and they say it loudly whilst drawing the most attention to themselves.

Don't listen to "apparently" because apparently can never be trusted as far as the truth is concerned.

Beware of "I Heard", I heard usually means from a source ten times removed.

Ignore "No offence" no offence generally means, "I am going to offend you". No offence says "I'm going to say something unpalatable

Say no to "can I get?" because it is a question that is an Americanism we should not put up with. You can't get, you can ask "may I have?" got it?

Don't tolerate "like". Like is the new "erm", it's infiltrated all forms of verbal communication, it's insidious and above all annoying in it's repetition. It may be America's worst ever import and it's been absorbed into the collective psyche to such an extent I find myself bombarded with "like" on a daily basis. Overheard conversations are now punctuated by "likes" that, once heard, gnaw away at you as if an avaricious rodent

Language is beautiful, florid and allows us to communicate all sorts of ideas and emotions so let's not allow it to be hijacked by blunt and lazy vocabulary that makes us dumber rather than more expansive.

MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED

2026-06-26T13:03:00.000+01:00

It is seldom that there is a TV show that surprises me. I am often told that I can always tell what is going to happen. Maybe that's due to exposure to many shows where the obvious is blindingly obvious.

A notable exception to the rule is Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed currently showing on Apple TV. Episode seven aired yesterday and I am enjoying the weekly nature of the show as rather than binging it one has to wait a week to catch up with events.

The title is somewhat misleading, but that's a good thing as it leads the viewer down one path only to be diverted at a number of crossroads.

The lead character is remarkably human and is struggling with the day to day through various means. Her ex husband is played with great obnoxiousness (if that's a word) as a bitter ex-partner and his new wife is exactly the type of too nice and understanding to be true, you would expect.

The Lead detective is unlike any lead detective we've seen before and the villain of the piece is splendidly psychotic. But, and here's the thing, everything is not exactly what it seems.

I won't give too much way as I am hopeful that you will start watching this remarkably entertaining show.

It's strength is it's character development within the unfolding circumstances. Yes, there is a big slice of suspension of disbelief in how things unravel, but that was good enough for Hitchcock.

Bring up a child, Gen Z co workers, sex workers and mysterious conspirators all play a part in weaving this twisty tale and the way in which those characters are written makes them very much three dimensional

In a strong year for streaming shows including The Beauty, Margo's Got Money Troubles, Cape Fear, A Thousand Blows, Alien Earth, Beef, Legends, Spider Noir, The Boys, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is the most suprising. I highly recommend that you watch it, but, a word of caution, "trust no one"

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

2026-06-22T18:00:44.675+01:00

Keir Starmer's resignation is one of those moments that will be reflected on in the future and commented on with the words "why?

It's a clear case of misinformation and rhetoric that, if said loudly and frequently enough, seeps into the nations consciousness as fact, when it clearly isn't.

Starmer's tenure when analysed dispassionately was not a disaster as the right leaning media voices are saying it was. In fact after years and years of Conservative government having their palms greased by millionaires the country was in a precarious state; which in turn has lead to the slow rise of the right.

Starmer had an uphill struggle but all the negativity fed to the populace just does not match up to reality.

The witch hunt of Angela Rayner pretty much sums up the bias and bile directed at the government and maybe Starmer has just had enough. What is clear is that we, the British public cannot allow this moment to be used as propaganda by Farage and his despicable minions, we need to stop them by any means necessary

Driving out Labour PM's is a pastime it seems and if one looks deeper it is clear why.

Whoever takes the helm in the shorter turn will need very thick skin as I can see no let up in the press, social media and TV in wanting a right wing government in power as it benefits the rich who pull the strings.

HAPPY DAZE

2026-06-18T11:43:00.000+01:00

To be happy is a good thing isn't it? But what does it actually mean? Yes family and friends are the greatest paths to happiness but there are other intangibles

An empty cinema in the afternoon -The joy of solitude, the lack of rustling of snack packets, the absence of phone screens piercing the darkness, none of the irritating talking. Pure bliss

Sunshine - the heat on your skin, the warm air and bright sky

Roast Chicken - Succulent, crispy, moreish

A glass of Ale - Forget your lagers and your ciders, a mouthful of ale refreshes the parts other drinks cannot reach

New socks - A fresh pair of Paul Smith socks on your showered and dried feet feels like slipping into a warm foot bath.

Finishing a good book - When you have turned the last page and close the book that you have spent a good while absorbing yourself into, that feeling of completion and satisfaction (preferably on holiday)

Fresh sheets - Its remarkable that the freshness of the sheet can bring such pleasure, crisp and cool to the touch

The 39 Steps (1935) - Hitchcock's spy caper is a rollicking yarn that is a pure joy from beginning to end. I watch it at least twice a year and it always makes me happy

The Arsenal - Win, lose or draw The Arsenal is not only a football club it's a common love, its a shared experience, and when The Arsenal win a warm glow lingers and a sense of pride and belonging takes hold. It's remarkable how an entity can bring such joy.

Sitting in the shade of a tree - This pastime takes you away from things for a while. A chance to relax, look up at the clouds and feel the cool earth beneath you; highly recommended as a diversion from getting work done.

I'm sure everyone has their own list of things that make them happy, and each list willl be different. My advice, dear reader, is to stop whatever you are doing and go and do sometrhimng that makes you happy. Go on, do it now, you know it makes sense.

DON'T DAWDLE

2026-06-12T16:18:00.000+01:00

Dawdling, this is something that drives me to distraction. Some days it seems as if everybody is at it. They get in my way, they dwell at doorways, dither at the till, they prevaricate at the cashpoint, they block the escalators, and they wander at the way in.

The Dawdler is in sharp contrast to the overactive spindly addict dashing to get their next fix like Usain Bolt on roller skates; the Tortoise and the Hare springs to mind.

Is dawdling a result of being in one’s own world? Be it the headphones or the loud mobile phone conversation, there has to be a reason for, this now, common high street scenario.

I remember in my earlier years walking down a crowded Oxford Street with the throng all seeming to know where they were going. Yes, you would get the odd bad pedestrian who would suddenly and sharply hit the brakes leading to collision, but by and large dawdling was at a minimum.

People looked where they were going, they listened, they paid attention to their surroundings, whereas now it’s all about the internal self rather than the world outside.

The bar dawdler is another creature that needs to face extinction. They get in the way of thirsty customers and try the patience of beleaguered bar staff, it shouldn't be too hard to choose a drink and order it without going through a complete list of the drinks available, or make a choice between Cheese & Onion and Salt and vinegar crisps or pork scratchings.

Mind you, this infuriating craze that has taken the pub world by storm of queuing up should be ridden out of town. It's pointless and actually makes bar staff work harder. Don't be a queuer.

I saw a clip on social media of a new trend in which idiotic attention seekers stand at the bottom of escalators blocking their fellow travellers way.This is moronic, dangerous and just plain annoying. Dawdling turned into performative nonsense.

Just remember, don't dawdle people, its not clever and its not funny.

PEACE

2026-06-05T12:01:00.000+01:00

All I want is a bit of peace, that’s all, not too much to ask for is it

I’m talking about peace and quiet, that all too rare commodity in today’s world. We, as a culture, have been bombarded with sound. All day, every day we are aurally assaulted by sounds that actually have no relevance to us, sounds that infringe on our tranquil state.

On small screens there are commercials that always seem much louder than the programme that you are watching. YouTube has commercials popping up at an increasingly rapid rate. If you don’t want these constant interruptions you can pay to go “ad free”, yes pay for not having to listen to things that you have not asked to hear.

There are other sounds that are inflicted upon our unsuspecting lug holes such as the loud music played from passing cars. It is an immutable law that the volume of the music blasting out of a vehicle is inversely proportionate to the quality of the music, its never Bowie or Stevie Wonder or Miles Davis or Mozart, is it?

Beef is another decibel distraction. When I say “beef” I will point you to the Urban Dictionary: "beef" refers to a dispute, a grudge, or a prolonged argument between two or more people. Having a loud beefing session over the phone is now as ubiquitous as the sound of fireworks on November 5th. Why people feel the need to have beef -ups so publicly is beyond me. I think it’s probably the belief that if you lead a quiet life, you aren’t Instagram worthy or something like that.

To paraphrase the title of one of the great Hammer Horror films Cheap Headphones And Ear Buds Must Be Destroyed! If I want to hear the high-pitched buzzing from the hearing device of a commuter listening to MC Shizzle Boink featuring DJ Thrust, I’d put my head in a wasp’s nest as it would be far less painful.

Having just been on holiday I have had a taste of the quiet life. The joy of silence, the pleasure of peace, the thrill of tranquillity, the ability to do and say nothing, that we take for granted are amplified when you have a break from the chaos of the City’ aural experience.

The modern obsession is to fill in silences for the sake of it. Never has the saying “if you have nothing to say don’t say anything” been more appropriate.

My advice gentle reader is to find some time for silence, some time to simply sit in peace and quiet and reset your brain. There’s plenty of time for noise, plenty of time for music , plenty of time for discourse and not enough time for silence, unless you make the time.

2026-05-29T12:27:00.000+01:00

normal service will be resumed shortly...

UNITED

2026-05-21T15:53:00.000+01:00

North London Together

A gathering on a Tuesday evening of 100,000 people on the streets of Islington celebrating Arsenal’s title win into the early hours was a sharp contrast to Tommy Robinson’s Unite The Kingdom March of a few days earlier.

A literal sea of diversity and genders gathered together in unity, real unity. The mood, buoyant, the atmosphere electric and the harmony obvious. This said more about modern Britain than the gathering in Whitehall where hate, fear and loathing held sway. Where animosity and suspicion were the default.

The unity seen outside the Emirates stadium was genuine in its shared passion. These people did not come together to show that they hated someone else but that they loved the same thing.

People decided to leave their houses, bars, pubs and restaurants to take part in a shared experience. This was not prearranged, this was a spontaneous moment that showed that a shared cause brings out the best in people when that shared cause has values and is inclusive.

There was no in fighting, no arrests, no one was made to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.There was no ego, this was purely a show of pride and celebration.

The red and white Flag of Saint George was weaponised at the UTK march whereas the red and white Arsenal colours were on display as a shared positive experience.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CATALAN

2026-05-20T11:58:35.994+01:00

Flight 115

Pepe Guardiola has booked his ticket on Helicopter flight 115 out of Saigon amid the imminent collapse of the Manchester City machine powered by oil and controversy. The darling of the UK sports media is fleeing before the Viet Cong storm the embassy.

His achievements speak for themselves, or do they? Are those achievements tainted?

There is an old proverb which says that there is no smoke without fire , and this may very well be true in Guardiola’s case. Drug tested as a player for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone while playing in Italy’s Serie A for Brescia in 2001. Guardiola was later exonerated

Manager of Barcelona who were found guilty of bribing referees. Former FC Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, José María Enríquez Negreira, and his son Javier Enríquez Romero, were indicted for "corruption", "breach of trust", and "false business records", opening an investigation into the case. Guardiola is of course innocent as he did not make payments

Manager of a Manchester City side that were given a two-year ban and were also handed a €30 million fine by UEFA's Club Financial Control Body for breach of Financial Fair Play rules after deeming they'd falsely inflated sponsorship revenues between 2012 and 2016. The ruling was later contested, and the court overturned the ban and reduced the fine to €10m

Manager of Manchester City who currently have 115+ charges. The alleged breaches include overstating sponsorship revenue, failing to provide accurate financial information, breaching player and manager remuneration rules, and non-compliance with investigatory obligations. Guardiola is of course innocent until proven a beneficiary.

Manger of a club owned by a nation state with bottomless resources via Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and a senior royal, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He operates within an authoritarian state that is frequently criticised by international organisations for restricting freedom of expression, criminalising dissent, and lacking fair trials. Human rights groups have demanded UK sanctions. Human rights organisations have called on the British government to investigate Sheikh Mansour's alleged role in the UAE government's support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. And a UN Panel of Experts and U.S. intelligence have identified the UAE as supplying weapons and logistical backing to the RSF, a militia group accused of committing widespread atrocities in Darfur. Naturally Guardiola is not involved in any of this he merely benefits financially.

His time at Bayern Munich seems to be his only tenure not to have any kind of shadow over it. In fact, the only hint of controversy was when Guardiola accused a dressing-room mole of damaging the club. Alleged details of rows that happened behind closed doors after the team's Champions League exit at the hands of Atlético Madrid were leaked to the German media and he was, understandably unhappy.

So, this man with a room full of trophies covering his time at Barcelona where he had the best players in the world and at Bayern Munich which is essentially a one/two team league and at Manchester City where has had unlimited resources, reaches the end of this chapter.

An iconoclast and a footballing genius for sure, but, and this is the thing, there is a whiff of something untoward connected to his achievements. The fans of the Clubs that he has managed won’t care about that and that’s fair enough, but in sport, above all businesses there is an expectation of fair play. Where Guardiola is concerned there will always be that niggling doubt that he didn’t play by the rules.